Fruit packer&#39;s stand



Oct. 13,1936; E. R. WALKER .2, 5 4

FRUIT PACKERS STA'ND 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 5, 1932 IN V EN TOR.

Q a BY v 7 wToR EY Patented Oct. 13, 1936 PATENT OFFICE FRUIT PACKERS STAND Edwin-R. Walker, Yakima, Wash, assignor to Food Machinery Corporation, San Jose, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application March 5,

17 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fruit packers stands such as are used in packing houses for the purpose of supporting boxes while they are being packed.

When the packer finishes packing a box, it is transferred .to a conveyor .for delivery to a lidding machine or other destination. Such conveyors are. commonly of the gravity type and frequently of. the type known as side wheel conveyors 01 which, generally speaking, comprise a pair of spaced parallel side rails in each of which is journaled throughout its length a series of small wheels or rollers similar to those used on roller skates. These conveyors are not only cheaper flit thanthe well known cross roller type of conveyor, but :are better suited for handling packed boxes of fruit, as the free space between the rails accommodates the bulged bottoms of the boxes resulting from tight packing.

' In order to transfer the boxes from the packing stands to a conveyor of the side wheel type, it has heretofore been necessary to lift the boxes from the stands and carry them to the conveyor. much of the packing is done by women, the trans- 5 fer of boxes is taken care of by other attendants employed for theopurpose.

i It is the principal object of this invention to provide. a packing stand of such character that boxes. may be transferred therefrom to a con- 3 Veyor'without the necessity of lifting or carrying them from the stand.

A further object is to construct such a stand sothat it. maybe operated expeditiously and by theexercise of a minimum of physical effort.

35 come apparent as the description proceeds in connection'with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one embodiment of the invention.

r In'the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus illustrating the various parts dispose-d in normal or idle position.

I Figure 2 is. a view similar to Figure lbut illustrating the parts in a different position as assumed 45 during the course of operation.

Figure 3 is another view similar to Figure 1 but.

illustrating the positions assumed by the parts as a box is being deposited upon a conveyor.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the apparatus with 50" portions broken away to better illustrate certain features ofconstruction.

,The packing stand illustrated comprises an adjustable fram'e made up of upper and lower sections so that the upper section may be raised or 55 loweredto' suit the convenience of the individual jLVarious fother objects and advantages will be-' 1932, Serial No. 597,018

packer. The lower section comprises the four corner posts I, secured together by cross braces 2, and may be provided with casters 3 so that the stand may be readily moved about. The upper section of the frame is made up of a pair of bent arms 4 interconnected at their upper ends'by a spacer rod 5 and having vertical portions 6 which are releasably clamped to the front corner posts l by clamps I. By loosening the clamps, the upper section of the frame may be adjusted to various elevations as desired. 7

The usual paper tray is indicated at 8 and is supported by an arm 9 having a bearing Ill slidably mounted upon the Vertical standard I H. An adjustable collar i2 serves to regulate the elevation of the tray. V

A box supporting pan or platform l3, provided at its lower edge with a handle M, overlies the frame and is interconnected therewith at each side by means of a pair of links l5 and i6, pivoted together at ll. The links l5 are interconnected at their outer ends by a rod I8 which passes through side flanges of the platform, while the links l6 are pivoted to a rod l9 extending between the frame members 4. The normal position of the platform during the packing operation is determined by the lugs 20, which project outwardly from the frame members 4 and engage with notches 2! cut in the links l5. When so engaged the platform is firmly held in place.

The upper portion of the platform I3 is supported by a fulcrum including a pair of antifriction rollers 22 journaled for rotation upon a cross rod 23 extending crosswise between a pair of supporting arms 24, and these arms are mounted to oscillate about the rod l9. Pivoted to the arms 24 and extending downwardly therefrom are connecting rods 25 which are pinned at their lower ends to the arms 26 of a V-shaped foot pedal 21. The ends of the foot pedal arms are pivoted to the lower cross braces 2 at 28. A spring 29 secured at its lower end to one of the cross braces 2 and at its upper end to the rod 23serves to hold the fulcrum rollers 22 normally in their lowermost position.

7 In the operation of that part of the packing stand thus far described, it will be apparent that a box 30, resting upon the platform l3, may be transferred to an adjacent conveyor such as indicated at 3| by depressing the foot pedal 27! to elevate the fulcrum rollers 22 and then grasping the handle I l and lifting the lower portion of the platform upwardly about the fulcrum rollers and shifting it rearwardly to overlie the conveyor. The length of the box is such that it extends outwardly beyond the outer edge of the platform so that when the foot pedal 2? is released the spring 29 lowers the fulcrum rollers, thereby tilting the platform downwardly until the outer end of the box rests upon the conveyor and the platform is supported by the spacer rod 5 which acts as a secondary fulcrum. This position of the parts is illustrated in Figure 3.

By reason of the frictional contact between the conveyor and that portion of the box resting thereon, the operator may now withdraw the platform from beneath the box without carrying the box with it, and the box is released upon the conveyor whereupon it moves by gravity to its destination. The platform is then lowered into its original position and is ready to receive another box.

In order to minimize the effort required to lift the lower portion of the platform when a loaded box is resting thereon, I provide a mechanism actuated by the foot pedal 2'! for shifting the box upwardly along the platform to shift its weight closer to the fulcrum point. This mechanism comprises a pusher finger 32 in the form of a heavy wire or rod, doubled upon itself to form a pair of supporting legs 33 which, at their lower ends, are spread apart to be pivotally secured to the lower cross braces 2. The finger 32 projects upwardly through a slot 34 in the platform I3 and is guided and actuated by a yoke 35 passing loosely around the finger and secured to a spacer rod 36 extending between the arms 24.

In operation, the parts are normally disposed in the positions illustrated in Figure 1, and when the operator has packed the box 3E) and wishes to transfer it to the conveyor the foot pedal 21 is depressed, thereby elevating the fulcrum rollers 22 and simultaneously the movement of the rod 36 carried by the arms 24 shifts the finger 32 forwardly to push the box upwardly along the platform nearer the fulcrum point, as seen in Figure 2. When the box is thus shifted, it be comes an easy matter to lift the platform about the fulcrum rollers 22 by means of the handle l4, whereupon the platform is shifted rearwardly to bring the box over the conveyor. The pedal is then released to lower the fulcrum rollers, thus tilting the platform away from the packing stand and dropping the outer end of the box upon the conveyor. The platform is thereupon withdrawn, leaving the box on the conveyor, and is dropped back into its original position, ready to receive another box to be packed.

It will be appreciated that although for the sake of this disclosure I have illustrated and described the operation of the invention in connection with its use in packing fruit boxes and transferring the same to side wheel conveyors, its use is not limited thereto, but it may be used for packing other types of containers with articles other than fruit, and it may be used to transfer such containers to other types of conveyors.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a box supporting stand, a frame including a fulcrum, a movable box supporting platform supported by said frame and resting upon said fulcrum, said platform being tiltable about said fulcrum and shiftable thereacross and means interconnecting the platform and frame for limiting movement of the platform, said means being extensible whereby the platform may be shifted crosswise of the frame across the fulcrum and tilted thereabout to overhang the frame and tilt downwardly away therefrom.

2. In a box supporting stand, a frame including a fulcrum, a movable box supporting platform supported by said frame and resting upon said fulcrum, said platform being tiltable about said fulcrum and shiftable thereacross, and a flexible linked connection between the platform and frame whereby the platform may be shifted crosswise of the frame across the fulcrum and tilted thereabout to overhang the frame and tilt downwardly away therefrom.

3. In a box supporting stand, a frame including a fulcrum, a movable box supporting platform supported by said frame and resting upon said fulcrum, and means interconnecting the platform and frame comprising a link pivotally secured at one end to the frame, and a second link pivotally secured at one end to the platform, the opposite ends of said links being pivoted together whereby the platform may be shifted outwardly across the fulcrum to overhang the frame and may be tilted about the fulcrum to tilt downwardly away from the frame.

4. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform supported thereupon, means interconnecting said platform and frame comprising a pair of connecting links pivotally interconnected at adjacent ends and pivotally secured at their opposite ends to the platform and frame respectively, and a lug projecting from the frame, one of said links being provided with means for engaging said lug to hold the platform in place.

5. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform supported thereupon at an incline toward the front of the frame, a fulcrum supporting the upper portion of the platform, and extensible means interconnecting the lower portion of the platform with the frame whereby the platform may be shifted rearwardly of the frame and tilted downwardly about the fulcrum away from the frame.

6. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform supported upon said frame for shifting and tilting movement relative thereto, extensible means interconnecting the platform and frame whereby the platform may be shifted outwardly to overhang the frame and tilt downwardly away from the frame, and means for varying the angle of tilt.

7. A box supporting stand comprising aframe, a platform supported thereupon, a fulcrum supporting the rear portion of the platform, extensible means interconnecting the platform and frame whereby the platform may be shifted 'out wardly therefrom across the fulcrum, and means for elevating and lowering the fulcrum with respect to the frame to vary the elevation of the outer end of the platform.

8. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform supported thereupon at an incline toward the front of the frame, a movable fulcrum supporting the upper portion of the .platform, extensible means interconnecting the lower portion of the platform with the frame whereby the platform may be lifted about the fulcrum and shifted rearwardly to overhang the frame, means for elevating said fulcrum to vary the elevation of the overhanging edge of the platform, a stationary fulcrum, and means for lowering the movable fulcrum to lower the platform onto the stationary fulcrum and tilt it away from the frame.

9. A box supporting stand comprising a frame,

a platform supported thereupon at an incline toward the front of the frame and provided with a slot therethrough, a fulcrum supporting the upper portion of the platform, a finger projecting upwardly through the slot to engage the lower end of a box resting upon the platform, means for moving said finger to push the box upwardly along the platform, and flexible means interconnecting the platform with the frame whereby the platform may be lifted upwardly about the fulcrum and shifted rearwardly across the fulcrum to overhang the frame.

10. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform supported thereupon at an incline toward the front of the frame and provided with a slot therethrough, a movable fulcrum supporting the upper portion of the platform, a finger projecting upwardly through said slot to engage the lower end of a box resting upon the platform, means for simultaneously elevating said fulcrum and moving the finger to push the box upwardly along the platform, flexible means interconnecting the platform with the frame whereby the platform may be lifted upwardly about the fulcrum and shifted rearwardly across the fulcrum to overhang the'frame, and means for lowering the fulcrum to tilt the overhanging platform away from the frame. i

11. In a box supporting stand, a frame including a fulcrum, a movable box supporting platform supported by said frame in a normally downwardly inclined position toward the front of the frame and resting upon said fulcrum, said platform being pivotable about said fulcrum and shiftable rearwardly thereacross to overhang the frame and tilt downwardly away therefrom, and means interconnecting the platform and frame to limit movement of the platform.

12. In a box supporting stand, a frame including a fulcrum, a movable box supporting platform supported by said frame in a normally downwardly inclined position toward the front of the frame and resting upon said fulcrum, said platform being pivotable about said fulcrum and shiftable thereacross, and means interconnecting the platformand frame to allow for lifting of the platform about the fulcrum and for shifting movement rearwardly across the fulcrum whereby the platform may overhang the frame and tilt downwardly away therefrom.

13. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform supported thereby in a normally inclined position, a fulcrum for the upper portion of the platform, said platform being pivotable about said fulcrum and shiftable thereacross to overhang the frame, and means for varying the elevation of the fulcrum with respect to the frame.

14. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform supported thereby in normally inclined position, a fulcrum supporting the upper portion of the platform, said platform being tiltable about said fulcrum and shiftable thereacross, and means associated with the platform for actuation by an operator to lift the platform about the fulcrum and shift it thereacross to overhang the frame.

15. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform supported thereby in a normally inclined position, a fulcrum for the upper portion of the platform, said platform being pivotable about said fulcrum and shiftable thereacross, a pusher member disposed to engage a box resting upon the platform, and means for actuating said pusher member to push the box upwardly along the platform.

16. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform supported thereby in a normall? inclined position, a fulcrum supporting the upper portion of the platform, a pusher member disposed to engage a box resting upon the platform, means for actuating said pusher member to push the box upwardly along the platform, and means interconnecting the platform and frame in a manner to allow for lifting of the platform about the fulcrum, and shifting movement across the fulcrum whereby the platform may overhang the frame.

17. A box supporting stand comprising a frame, a platform carried thereby in a normally inclined position, a pivotal support for the upper portion of the platform, about which the platform may be lifted, a pusher member disposed to engage a box resting upon the platform, and means for actuating said pusher member to push the box upwardly along the platform.

EDWIN R. WALKER. 

